Graphical user interface for optimization of flight plan schedule, ride quality, and efficiency

• US 10,026,325 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Hamilton, James R., Sain, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US15/267,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20180082595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan

Abstract

An aircraft system, computer-implemented method, and computer program product for optimizing a flight plan for schedule, ride quality, and efficiency is provided. Tradeoff preferences between on-schedule operations, ride quality, and efficiency are received. A multi-axis chart that includes axes for on-schedule operations, ride quality, and efficiency is displayed. Values are arranged along the respective axes based on the tradeoff preferences. When a flight plan is received, values for on-schedule operations, ride quality, and efficiency are extracted. A triangle is overlaid on the multi-axis chart such that apexes of the triangle intersect the respective axes at locations corresponding to the extracted values. When multiple optional flight plans are received, multiple triangles corresponding to the respective flight plans can be overlaid on the multi-axis chart. The pilot can identify a most-preferable flight plan based on visual differences between the triangles.

Claims

1. An aircraft system, comprising:

a computer display screen;

a computer processor; and

a computer memory in communication with the computer processor, and operable to store;

tradeoff preferences for a user, comprising;

a first tradeoff preference between an on-schedule operation characteristic and a ride quality characteristic of flight plans;

a second tradeoff preference between the ride quality characteristic and an operation efficiency characteristic of the flight plans; and

a third tradeoff preference between the operation efficiency characteristic and the on-schedule operation characteristic for the flight plans; and

an application that, when executed on the computer processor;

outputs for display on the computer display screen an image of a multi-axis chart, wherein the multi-axis chart comprises;

a first axis for on-schedule operation, wherein values for the on-schedule operation characteristic along the first axis are weighted based on the tradeoff preferences;

a second axis for ride quality, wherein values for the ride quality characteristic along the second axis are weighted based on the tradeoff preferences; and

a third axis for operation efficiency, wherein values for the operation efficiency characteristic along the third axis are weighted based on the tradeoff preferences;

receives an initial flight plan that includes a first on-schedule operation characteristic value, a first ride quality characteristic value, and a first operation efficiency characteristic value; and

overlays on the multi-axis chart a first triangle, wherein apexes of the first triangle are aligned with the axes of the multi-axis chart such that a first apex of the first triangle intersects the first axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the first on-schedule operation characteristic value, a second apex of the first triangle intersects the second axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the first ride quality characteristic value, and a third apex of the first triangle intersects the third axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the first operation efficiency characteristic value.

2. The aircraft system of claim 1, wherein the application, when executed by the computer processor, further:

receives a first updated flight plan that includes a second on-schedule operation characteristic value, a second ride quality characteristic value, and a second operation efficiency characteristic value; and

overlays on the multi-axis chart a second triangle, wherein apexes of the second triangle are aligned with the axes of the multi-axis chart such that a fourth apex of the second triangle intersects the first axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the second on-schedule operation characteristic value, a fifth apex of the second triangle intersects the second axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the second ride quality characteristic value, and a sixth apex of the second triangle intersects the third axis of the multi-axis chart at a location correspond to the second operation efficiency characteristic value.

3. The aircraft system of claim 2, wherein the second triangle replaces the first triangle.

4. The aircraft system of claim 2, wherein the second triangle is overlaid on top of the first triangle.

5. The aircraft system of claim 4, wherein the second triangle is displayed in a partially transparent manner such that the first triangle is not obscured by the second triangle.

6. The aircraft system of claim 2, wherein the application, when executed by the computer processor, further:

receives a second updated flight plan that includes a third on-schedule operation characteristic value, a third ride quality characteristic value, and a third operation efficiency characteristic value; and

overlays on the multi-axis chart a third triangle, wherein apexes of the third triangle are aligned with the axes of the multi-axis chart such that a seventh apex of the third triangle intersects the first axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the third on-schedule operation characteristic value, an eighth apex of the third triangle intersects the second axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the third ride quality characteristic value, and a ninth apex of the third triangle intersects the third axis of the multi-axis chart at a location correspond to the third operation efficiency characteristic value.

7. The aircraft system of claim 6, wherein the third triangle is overlaid on top of the first triangle and the second triangle.

8. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving tradeoff preferences for a user, the tradeoff preferences comprising;

a first tradeoff preference between an on-schedule operation characteristic and a ride quality characteristic of flight plans;

a second tradeoff preference between the ride quality characteristic and an operation efficiency characteristic of the flight plans; and

a third tradeoff preference between the operation efficiency characteristic and the on-schedule operation characteristic of the flight plans;

outputting for display on a computer display screen an image of a multi-axis chart, wherein the multi-axis chart comprises;

a first axis for on-schedule operation, wherein values for the on-schedule operation characteristic along the first axis are weighted based on the tradeoff preferences;

a second axis for ride quality, wherein values for the ride quality characteristic along the second axis are weighted based on the tradeoff preferences; and

a third axis for operation efficiency, wherein values for the operation efficiency characteristic along the third axis are weighted based on the tradeoff preferences;

receiving an initial flight plan that includes a first on-schedule operation characteristic value, a first ride quality characteristic value, and a first operation efficiency characteristic value; and

overlaying on the multi-axis chart a first triangle, wherein apexes of the first triangle are aligned with the axes of the multi-axis chart such that a first apex of the first triangle intersects the first axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the first on-schedule operation characteristic value, a second apex of the first triangle intersects the second axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the first ride quality characteristic value, and a third apex of the first triangle intersects the third axis of the multi-axis chart at a location correspond to the first operation efficiency characteristic value.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a first updated flight plan that includes a second on-schedule operation characteristic value, a second ride quality characteristic value, and a second operation efficiency characteristic value; and

overlaying on the multi-axis chart a second triangle, wherein apexes of the second triangle are aligned with the axes of the multi-axis chart such that a fourth apex of the second triangle intersects the first axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the second on-schedule operation characteristic value, a fifth apex of the second triangle intersects the second axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the second ride quality characteristic value, and a sixth apex of the second triangle intersects the third axis of the multi-axis chart at a location correspond to the second operation efficiency characteristic value.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the second triangle replaces the first triangle.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the second triangle is overlaid on top of the first triangle.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the second triangle is displayed in a partially transparent manner such that the first triangle is not obscured by the second triangle.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a second updated flight plan that includes a third on-schedule operation characteristic value, a third ride quality characteristic value, and a third operation efficiency characteristic value; and

overlaying on the multi-axis chart a third triangle, wherein apexes of the third triangle are aligned with the axes of the multi-axis chart such that a seventh apex of the third triangle intersects the first axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the third on-schedule operation characteristic value, an eighth apex of the third triangle intersects the second axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the third ride quality characteristic value, and a ninth apex of the third triangle intersects the third axis of the multi-axis chart at a location correspond to the third operation efficiency characteristic value.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the third triangle is overlaid on top of the first triangle and the second triangle.

15. A computer program product for displaying tradeoffs for an aircraft flight plan, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code executable by one or more computer processors to;

receive tradeoff preferences for a user, the tradeoff preferences comprising;

a first tradeoff preference between an on-schedule operation characteristic and a ride quality characteristic of flight plans;

a second tradeoff preference between the ride quality characteristic and an operation efficiency characteristic of the flight plans; and

a third tradeoff preference between the operation efficiency characteristic and the on-schedule operation characteristic of the flight plans;

output for display on a computer display screen an image of a multi-axis chart, wherein the multi-axis chart comprises;

a first axis for on-schedule operation, wherein values for the on-schedule operation characteristic along the first axis are weighted based on the tradeoff preferences;

a second axis for ride quality, wherein values for the ride quality characteristic along the second axis are weighted based on the tradeoff preferences; and

a third axis for operation efficiency, wherein values for the operation efficiency characteristic along the third axis are weighted based on the tradeoff preferences;

receive an initial flight plan that includes a first on-schedule operation characteristic value, a first ride quality characteristic value, and a first operation efficiency characteristic value; and

overlay on the multi-axis chart a first triangle, wherein apexes of the first triangle are aligned with the axes of the multi-axis chart such that a first apex of the first triangle intersects the first axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the first on-schedule operation characteristic value, a second apex of the first triangle intersects the second axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the first ride quality characteristic value, and a third apex of the first triangle intersects the third axis of the multi-axis chart at a location correspond to the first operation efficiency characteristic value.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable program code is further executable to:

receive a first updated flight plan that includes a second on-schedule operation characteristic value, a second ride quality characteristic value, and a second operation efficiency characteristic value; and

overlay on the multi-axis chart a second triangle, wherein apexes of the second triangle are aligned with the axes of the multi-axis chart such that a fourth apex of the second triangle intersects the first axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the second on-schedule operation characteristic value, a fifth apex of the second triangle intersects the second axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the second ride quality characteristic value, and a sixth apex of the second triangle intersects the third axis of the multi-axis chart at a location correspond to the second operation efficiency characteristic value.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the second triangle replaces the first triangle.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the second triangle is overlaid on top of the first triangle.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the second triangle is displayed in a partially transparent manner such that the first triangle is not obscured by the second triangle.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable program code is further executable to:

receive a second updated flight plan that includes a third on-schedule operation characteristic value, a third ride quality characteristic value, and a third operation efficiency characteristic value; and

overlay on the multi-axis chart a third triangle, wherein apexes of the third triangle are aligned with the axes of the multi-axis chart such that a seventh apex of the third triangle intersects the first axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the third on-schedule operation characteristic value, an eighth apex of the third triangle intersects the second axis of the multi-axis chart at a location corresponding to the third ride quality characteristic value, and a ninth apex of the third triangle intersects the third axis of the multi-axis chart at a location correspond to the third operation efficiency characteristic value.